Egg-dispensing device



June 4, 1 929. J. ToMoDA EGG DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Feb. 23, 1928 @z www?. mmv/1 INVENTORJ:

Patented June 4, 1929.

UNITED STATES JICHIO TOMODA, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

EGG-DISPENSING- DEVICE.

Application led February 23, 1928. Serial No. 256,295.

This invention relates to improvements in a device for holding, displaying and dispens` ing eggs.

The obj ects of the invention are to provide a neat and ornamental receptacle for eggs, that f dozen, or a dozen of eggs into a tray, simul-V taneously, from which they may be removed and placed in a bag.

Eggs, when exhibited for sale in the stores in the usual manner, are placed in boxes or baskets, and, when. sold, are takenV fromv the top of the pile. Frequently, the pile is replenished before all the eggs are taken out of the boxes or baskets. Those remaining at the bottom are covered with new eggs.

The present invention is designed to pre` vent the leaving of certain of the eggs, as all may be removed before the device is refilled.

A further advantage ofthe invention is that the eggs are accurately counted and delivered for placing in a bag or other container for the purchaser.

Other objects and advantages lmay appear in the subjoined detail description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal side elevation of my improved dispensing ,device. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional eleva" tion of the device. Fig. 3 is adetail view of an annular partition member. Fig. 4 is aA fragmentary and perspective detail view of the partitition members. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the device. Fig. 6 is an enlarged and fragmentary sectional view showing the trap door for release of the eggs, and its spring actuating elements.

Referring to the drawings, the base 11 has integral end members-12, and has mounted thereon the tubular casing 13, preferably of glass, or other transparent material. The casing has atop opening 14 and a delivery opening 15. The base has an integral tray 16 adjacent to the delivery opening 15. A shaft 17 is journalled in the end wall members 12, and has on one end the hand-wheel 18 for manually actuating the sha-ft with a rotary motion. A drum 19 mounted on shaft 17, carries the annular partition members 20 and the longitudinal partition members 21. These partition members may be of stout paper and are interlocked in the manner of the ordinary egg container partition members. Notches 22 in the drinn engage with partition members 21, and serve to rotate them simultaneously with the drum. The eggs 23 are held in a display position against the tubular wall member 13.

For actuating the drum, I provide a ratchet wheel 24, fixed to one end of the drum. A pawl 25, mounted on a pivot pin 26, project-ing from an end wall' member 12, serves to prevent rotation of the drum in one direction. To actuate the druinwith a rotarymotion in the direction as indicated by the arrow, I provide a cover 27, hingedly connected to the base and adapted to close the delivery opening 15. This cover 27 has an actuating handle 28 at one en d thereof, for manually swinging the cover to open position, and when in open position, will deliver the eggs from the compartments registering with the delivery opening, and onto'the tray 16. At the opposite ends of the cover,and mounted on the hinge member 29, I provide a lever 30, having an arm 31 corresponding with the contour ofthe cover, and an arm 32. A pawl 33 is pivotally connected relative to the pivot pin 34, on arm 32, and, when t-he cover is swung to open position, will actuate the ratchet wheel 24. Spring 42 actuates pawl 25.

As the cover is swung to open position, the drum is rotated sufficientlyl to cause another row of egg compartments to register with the delivery opening 15, and the eggs are discharged on the inner side of the cover and finally on the delivery tray 16. On the closing movement of the cover, the pawl 25 prevents rotation in the contrary direction. A spring 35, having one end connected to arm 31, and the other end connected to actuating pawl 33, serves to maintain pawl 33 in operative engagement with the ratchet wheel, and to maintain the cover in open or closed positions. f

The cover 27, consists'of two sections, thesection 36 having thereon the handle 28, be-

ing fixed to shaft 29, and the section 37 being pivotally mounted on pintle shaft 29. On the outer side of sect-ion 37, I provide a slide bolt 38, which is normally positioned to engage with a locking loop 39, on the fixed section 36, but which may be shifted to engage with a locking loop 40, on the base.

'When the cover section 37 :is maintained .in

' wheel 18 is used for actuating the drum when the compartments are bing refilled with eggs.

The cover 27 is maintained in either open or closed position by a spring 35. The position of the spring is shown in Fig. G in the open position in full. lines, and in closed position in dotted lines.

From the foregoing description and drawings, it may be seen that I have provided an eiicient egg-dispensing device and an attractive display device.

lhat is claimed is 1. In an egg-dispensingdevice, the combination with a base including integral end members, of a shaft journalled in the end members, a drum fixed to the shaft, a handwheel for manually actuating the shaft, annular and longitudinal partition members mounted on the periphery ot the drum and forming a series of egg compartments thereon, a transparent and tubular easing enclosing the drum and egg-compartments, said tubular casing having an opening at the top and a delivery opening adjacent to the bottom` a delivery tray mounted on the base and adj acent to the delivery opening, a cover including two sections adapted for closing` the delivery opening, a hand lever for manually manipulating the cover to its open position, and elements arranged whereby the drum is actuated to register a series otl egg-conipartments with the delivery opening when the cover is manually actuated to its open position.

2. In an egg-dispensing device, the combination with a base including integral end members, of a rotatable shaft journalled in the end members, a drum fired to the rotatable shaft, a hand-wheel :tor manually actuating the shaft, partition members Jforming a series of compartments on the periphery of the drum, a transparent and tubular casing enclosing the drum and the egg compartments thereon, said tubular casing having a top opening and a delivery opening adjacent to the bottom, a cover including two sections adapted for closing the delivery opening in normal position7 means for locking one section with the base and with the remaining cover section alternatively, a hand lever integral with one cover section and arranged for manually actuating the cover to open position, a ratchet wheel fixed to one end oi the drum, a stud-pin fixed to one end of the base member, a pawl mounted on said stud-pin and serving to retain the ratchet wheel against rotation in one direction, and a pawl cooperatively arranged with the cover, and in engagement with the ratchet wheel, and serving to actuate the wheel and drum when the cover is operated to its open position.

8. `In an egg-dispensing device, a base, end standards integral therewith. a sha't't journalled in the end standards, a drum iixed to the shaft, a series ot' egg compartments on the periphery of the drum, a transparent casing enclosing the drum and compartments and forming the outer wall of the compartments, said casing having a top opening and a delivery opening adjacent to the bottom thereof, a. cover for the top opening, a swinging cover for the delivery opening, said swinging cover having two sections, means for locking one section to the remaining sect-ion and alternatively to the adjacent end standard, means for manually actuating the cover to open position, and pawl and ratchet means actuated by the opening movement of the cover whereby the drum is advanced-in rotation to register another row of egg compartments with the delivery opening.

4. In an egg-dispensing device, a base, standards integral with the base, a shaft ournalled in the standards,a drum fixed to the shaft?, a series of compartments on the periphery of the drum, a casing enclosing the drum and compartments, andv having a delivery opening adjacent to the bottom, a swinging cover for closing the delivery opening, said cover including two sections, means for locking one section to the remaining section and alternatively locking to the end standard, a handle for manually actuating the cover to open position, and ratchet means whereby the drum is advanced in rotation on the opening movement of the cover.

JIcHIo 'roMonan 

